Woodster's Wreal World

It was a hot day...but the climb was worth it

2010-09-30T10:54:00.003-05:00

But we made it to the top! In the background you can see off to Cartersville. Beautiful view on a clear day...I used to fly from Cobb County airport to Cartersville airport to shoot takeoffs and landings, and on a clear day you can see the runway off in the distance easily and Ladd's mountain that was the landmark to start my turn to Base while landing...

The Petester likes to hike too...

2010-09-30T10:51:00.002-05:00

We've taken him with us the last two years to the mountains, and he is a hiking kind 'a dog! He loves it!

The Great Hiking Duo...

2010-09-30T10:47:00.002-05:00

Anne is BDs youngest daughter, lives near Charlotte, NC, and comes to visit often. She too likes to hike and when with us last we took her to Pine Mountain. It's only about 5 minutes away from our house near Red Top Mountain, and is a nearly 600' vertical climb in about .8 of a mile. But at the top it's the highest point in Bartow County and the views are wonderful!

North and West towards Chatsworth, Georgia, up Hwy 411

2010-09-30T10:22:00.003-05:00

Chatsworth is where the "Chief James Vann" house was built in the early 1800s and still stands as a historical location. He was an early leader in the Cherokee Nation, owning a nearly 1,000 acre plantation on which the house was built. His son, Joe Vann, inherited the home and plantation after his Fathers death and became an even wealthier businessman and planter. All was lost, though, when President Andrew Jackson blatantly ignored the Supreme Court decision against the State of Georgia when the question of Cherokee Nation sovereignty and removal, and the extension of Georgia State Law over the Cherokee Nation, was handed down by Justice John Marshall. The Trail of Tears was the result.

Cohutta mountains and Cohutta Wilderness

2010-09-30T10:18:00.002-05:00

This is from the West overlook off of Fort Mountain looking to the East and North to the Cohutta mountains and Cohutta Wilderness. It was a beautiful day and clear skies for the most part. You can look more to the West and still North to Chatsworth, Georgia, the center of power for the Cherokee in these parts prior to their removal. I'll post another picture looking that way...

2010-09-30T10:11:00.002-05:00

Don't know if you can read this...it tells the legend of a Welsh Prince, Madoc, who sailed here and built the wall for defensive purposes. Cherokee indian lore tells of this guy too, and even speaks about light skinned, red haired and blue eyed indians that roamed these mountains. Of course, there is the Spanish legend as well, and the legend of the Creek Indians that identified this place as a "honeymoon" spot for newlyweds...still, someone built the wall, though it's genesis will probably never be learned for sure.

Tower

2010-09-30T10:06:00.002-05:00

You can see the brokes stairs on the lower left that prevents anyone from climbing up into the tower...supposedly, though, in times past, this was a great place to view the Cohutta mountains...

Fort Mountain

2010-09-30T09:58:00.002-05:00

This was shot driving up Fort Mountain to Fort Mountain State Park. You an see just the beginning of color in the foliage. We're still about 3 weeks from 'Peak" season here, but it's getting close. Haven't been up Fort Mountain or to the Park in many, many years. It is noteworthy due to an 855' stone wall that legend has it dates back to the 1100s and Welsh sailors walking these mountains. There is also a 38' tall rock tower that is, unfortunately in these litigous times, closed to climbing.

Sunrise Tuesday morning on the back porch...

2010-09-30T09:56:00.002-05:00

The low lying clouds add such a "mystical" aspect to being up here...

Morning on our porch...

2010-09-30T09:51:00.002-05:00

We were up here last year and rented a cabin across the street from some really nice ones that we thought might have a better view of the Rich Mountain Wilderness Area. We walked down the street to look at them, and decided this year we'd rent one of them. It was a good move...beautiful mornings on the back porch. Cool temps in the 50s, hot coffee on a rocking chair...

Black Rock Mountain on the Tennessee Rock Trail

2010-09-30T09:36:00.002-05:00

Sunday and Monday were rainout days. Didn't get to do much except lay around, drive into Dahlonega (one of my favorite little villages up here), and decide what we were going to do when the rain cleared out. First stop was Black Rock Mountain State Park. This looks out towards the Carolina. Black Rock Mountain State Park is in Rabun County in the Northeast corner of Georgia. This trail is one of my favorites...

2010-02-13T09:25:00.001-05:00

It is beautiful, though. All this was blanketed with snow until we took the Petester out this morning. He had a hard time...he knew there just had to be ground there somewhere as he had just seen it, and smelled it, yesterday. So he spent his time pawing through the snow, burying his head up to his eyes to smell and find somewhere that would be good to pee on...took some time, but he found a place up in the stand of trees...

2010-02-13T09:21:00.000-05:00

Got 3 inches of really good "powder" snow...just the kind you'd love to ski! Roads are closed of course, but the Interstate is open and I've seen a car make it's way out of the neighborhood. Our driveway, though, is so steep that getting out will have to wait until the sun melts first the layer of snow then the ice underneath...supposed to get more on Sunday evening and I have a plane out Monday at 11AM...I'll park the truck at the bottom of the driveway later today or tomorrow when I can get down the slope.

2010-02-13T09:18:00.000-05:00

Then it started to accumulate. This was around 2 pm. You could see the down the road, but beyond a couple blocks it was all white. The ridge lines behind us to the North and off to the West of us were obscured by the blowing snow

2010-02-13T09:16:00.000-05:00

It started to snow around Noon or so...just a little at first, like a random wind-blown flake. Then it started to increase intensity...

St. Simon's Island

2010-01-21T09:52:00.004-05:00

We at first were directed to a small (and I mean SMALL) condominium that had it's bedroom window covered in plastic due to construction going on that was NOT supposed to be going on...they then gave us this 3br 3bath, beautiful oceanfront condominium to stay in instead. As you can see, it's right on the ocean and each day, except for today, we've walked in the morning and in the late afternoon...plus taken the requisite "vacation" naps while reading...;-)!

2010-01-09T08:29:00.000-05:00

This morning at 5:58AM...8.3 degrees outside and only 61 in the house (didn't turn the heat up much last night...ooppss!!). At around 7AM it had dropped to 7.9 degrees, where it stayed until it began to recover around 8AM or so with the Sun peeking up over the cloud bank to our Southeast. It is cold!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-01-09T08:27:00.000-05:00

A few years ago we had a late Winter storm and we lost a lot of our Azaleas. They should, actually, stand through the Winter and come back well in the Spring. The problem back a few years was that they had started to bloom when the cold snap hit in April. This year they have bloomed for late Fall (they bloom Spring, Summer and Fall...called an Encore Azalea they are beautiful and display their beauty three times a year) and I think that despite the snow covering they recieve they'll bloom as expected in Spring...at least I hope so!

2010-01-09T08:24:00.000-05:00

You'll notice no dog pawprints...Petey most definitively dislikes snow. When I carry him out to tend to a call of nature, he stands with one front paw in the air, looks around at the snow, literally hops like a rabbit to shallower depths, does what he needs to do and hightails it back to the porch. I went out this AM with him and after I decided to feed the birds and leave some critter food for the squirrels. The Petester wanted nothing of that, so he stood by the door so BD could see him shivering on the porch so she would let him in...he doesn't like cold, and doesn't care for snow despite the beauty of it's presence.

2010-01-09T08:20:00.000-05:00

We are susceptible to a little snow a time or two each year. But usually it falls, looks pretty in doing so, then melts in a matter of hours as the temps rarely allow the ground to get cold enough to support the snow to accumulate. This year, however, has seen the temperatures dip into the teens and stay there for more than a week, which doesn't happen very often. We get a cold snap for a few days, then back to the average temps in the low 50s. Not this past week or two...staying in the low 30s and high 20s, lows at night in to the teens, and single digits last night. We're supposed to be above our average high of 51 by mid week (I sense a ride coming on...), but then another system is headed out way...just in time for our yearly trip to the coast next Sunday, the 17th where it's supposed to be in the 40s during the day and 20s at night...

2010-01-09T08:15:00.000-05:00

This was the view out our bedroom French Doors to the porch yesterday, Friday AM. We had about a half inch, but it was the temperatures that really caught our attention. The snow that fell Thursday night/Friday morning of course packed into ice, and since out driveway is pretty steep we didn't venture out until late Friday afternoon. This morning, Saturday, the snow is still with us and the large, level "pad" at the top of the driveway, leading into the garage, is again packed snow/ice...we'll be homebound for several hours today as well...Petey's not liking that.

Sunrise January 4th, 2010

2010-01-03T14:56:00.002-05:00

The sunrise this AM was almost spiritual...

...it was God painting the day to come with fire and color...

2009-12-24T14:52:00.000-05:00

Petey got a haircut Tuesday for the Holiday visitors. He was getting really scraggly...but he so enjoys it when Brian or Anne come to visit...

2009-12-24T14:51:00.000-05:00

I don't remember where we got these two...but they've been perfect for sitting over the entry way and providing security for the tree and presents when we're not here...;-)!

2009-12-24T14:49:00.000-05:00

"And the stockings were hung by the chimney with care in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there..." There are 5 hung on the mantle...one each for me, BD and Anne, then the two others for Emerson and Hoss...Gertie, as you can see, is in the Christmas spirit!! She's been dressed for the Season for two weeks!

2009-12-24T14:47:00.000-05:00

Anne, BD's youngest daughter, is down for Christmas and her and BD were baking away this AM. They made homemade cinnamon rolls, with raisins for her family and without for me (I hate raisins...), a Red Velvet cake for me for Christmas dessert, and they're are going to finish off the day with an apple pie. You can also see the Christmas stuffed animals on the chair...got 'em everywhere.

2009-12-24T14:38:00.000-05:00

You can see the scrabble game unwrapped under the tree. On Saturday BD and I wrapped gifts. I was in our bedroom and she was in the guest room. We promised to announce forays into each other's wrapping arenas...;-)! Anyway, BD said she was coming in, so I put the Scrabble game under the bed...and, you guessed it, forgot I had done so and failed to wrap it. When BD came to bed that night she said she was a bad, bad girl and I should agree to her saying so. I had no earthly idea what she was talking about until she said she could have ignored the game and not told me that she saw it...but she decided to let me know she saw it and demanded that since it was a "discovered" gift, unwrapped, it was fair game to play prior to Christmas. Sometimes I do the dumbest things...

2009-12-24T14:34:00.000-05:00

We got the tree up last weekend. It is "bowed" in the middle, but straight at the bottow and top. We were going to buy a shorter tree this year, try to stay around 5' or 6', but when we went to the tree place this one just reached out. It's actually a couple feet shorter than last year, but I still had to have the 8' step ladder to trim it and put the angel on the top.

2009-12-24T14:31:00.000-05:00

We bought 8 chairs to go with it. I didn't think they were very comfortable when sitting in them at the store, but now that they're here they are very, very comfortable...

2009-12-24T13:36:00.000-05:00

Wanted to get a picture up of our new Dining Room table and chairs. We've got it "dressed" for Christmas. BD has a more formal table cloth with a Christmas theme and napkins to match that we'll put on it for Christmas supper...it's something we've wanted for a while and finally pulled the trigger. It's set for 8 right now, but there are 3 more leaves that go in that will sit 12...

Sittin' and pickin'...

2009-10-15T15:21:00.001-05:00

We went back to the Fall Festival at the North Georgia Fair Grounds today. It was raining in Hiawassee, terribly so, and we ducked into an exhibition hall for over 30 minutes to wait it out. Went out later and had to duck back into a covered dining hall for a piece of pizza to wait out another downpour. All in all, though, it was another day in the mountains and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

All along the walkway around the fair grounds, there would be "groups" of people sitting around in a circle with guitar, bass, fiddle and mandolin. This group also had a dobro player. Since the rain had pretty much kept attendance to the festival today to a handful, it was easy to get right up to them and listen. It was pure mountain music, no amplified instruments, though these guys had a PA for the vocals and to pick up the istruments...others had no amplification at all. At one time down the walkway there was a trio, bass, guitar and banjo, playing good old mountain music so good that a couple in the group listening started clogging...what a show! I think that when I retire I'll just come up here during the festivals and sit in with some of these guys...;-)!

New hat...

2009-10-15T15:15:00.000-05:00

What you don't have to put up with when you're only 1 year old...

Beautiful foliage...

2009-10-14T14:53:00.000-05:00

Right over the wrap around porch railing...

Rainy day in Blue Ridge

2009-10-14T14:51:00.000-05:00

But a rainy day in the mountains is still a better day than a sunny day at work...;-)! This is the third or fourth day that it has rained throughout the day. Still, can't beat the view, and it made for a very relaxing day.

2009-10-14T09:07:00.000-05:00

Mt. Yonah

2009-10-14T08:41:00.000-05:00

Mt. Yonah is the highest point on the Georgia Piedmont...it leads you to Helen, an "Alpine" themed village in North central Georgia. I took this shot while driving the Richard B. Russell Scenic Highway (GA 348) that cuts from Helen, up towards Brasstown Bald (the tallest mountain in Georgia at 4,800'), and then onto Tesnatee Gap on the back side of Blood Mountain. The next shot is of the color on the back side of Blood Mountain...it has noticeably turned somewhat while up here these past several days...

Smith Lake

2009-10-14T08:37:00.000-05:00

Went for a ride yesterday to just enjoy the area. Drove by Unicoi State Park and Smith Lake. I like this shot of the tree-lined shore, the hills behind and the reflection on the water. We decided to take a short walk around the lake to a vantage point to take some pictures...didn't look at the trail map. So, 2.5 miles later we were pretty pooped, as was Petey who won't trust to take a short walk again...

Close-up of the rapids

2009-10-14T08:34:00.000-05:00

Soque River at a Potter's Gallery

2009-10-14T08:33:00.000-05:00

This little "Mark of the Potter" business is hidden right on the Soque River, down a two-lane road in the middle of nowhere, really. I've got a better and close-up shot to follow...nice to live over your business with the "rushing" of the river rapids to lull you to sleep.

Overflowing...

2009-10-12T18:30:00.000-05:00

You can see the water in the lake at the top, and looking to get released. The releases take place the first weekend in November and April...it's a really, really beautiful, almost spiritual, place...

Talullah Gorge

2009-10-12T18:28:00.000-05:00

The deepest gorge East of the Mississippi...nearly 1000' deep. The "Great Wallenda" walked across it in 1974 in 18 minutes, stopping twice to do a headstand, the first as a nod to those of his family who had fallen to their death over the years and the second for "the boys in Viet Nam." It's actually managed by Georgia Power, though it's a State Park. It has a dam (next pic) that was built for power purposes, but twice each year Georgia Power releases the water over the dam, and it draws all the "daredevil" white water kayakers, canoeists, rafters, etc to the gorge for two days of action.

Big punkins...

2009-10-12T18:20:00.000-05:00

This is Brian at Burt's Farm, where the focus is on Halloween. The pumpkin he's behind is NOT the biggest ones they have. This past week we have been in the mountains on vacation, and drove to Burt's to show BDs sister and brother in law the place. While there there was a couple with two young kids that bought one of the bigger pumpkins...overheard them say that the bigger ones weighed nearly 300 pounds. It took two of the workers to pick it up with a sling and get it into a wheelbarrow...BD and I were going to buy one a couple years ago until we asked each other how we would get it out of the truck and onto the porch...bought a much smaller one...;-)!

Sunrise

2009-10-12T18:15:00.000-05:00

This is why I love where I live...sunrise on a cool morning a couple weeks ago. The picture doesn't do justice to the colors...deep oranges under the clouds...beautiful!

New handlebars and a new fork bag

2009-10-12T18:12:00.000-05:00

Bought a set of chrome touring bars for "The Beastess" as well as a new fork bag. The bag came from BossBags, an American firm that makes beautiful bags for motorcycles. The posture brought by the bars is one of real "laying back and in the wind," making longer trips much more comfortable.

Two of the nicest Harley-Davidson motorcycles in Georgia

2009-10-12T18:00:00.002-05:00

My friend Brian, a fellow motorcycle rider from Los Angeles, and a fellow Airman in Southeast Asia and Germany during the Viet Nam war, came to visit for two days prior to his duaghter's wedding in Savannah, Georgia. He rented a Harley for the time he was here and we put 460 miles on the bikes on those two days. We went to the Northeast part of Georgia the first day, visiting Amicalola Falls, and Burt's Farm where Halloween is the focus. While on the way, we stopped at a spot on GA 136 that has a beautiful overlook to the South and Southwest. We parked the bikes together and they had to be the two best looking Harleys in Georgia!

Long view...

2009-08-22T17:41:00.000-05:00

This is the West Rim again, but you can also see along it and to the North the topography of the area. The Appalachians run down through NE Alabama as well, and this area is part of the Lookout Mountain part of the Range, just a little SW of Chattanooga. When I was flying, heading to Chattanooga took me over this area and a little more Northerly...pretty country, but not as spectacular as the mountains in NE Georgia and SW North Carolina...it was a pretty nice ride. Temps were in the low 70s when I left around 10AM, and held to 80 or so by the time I returned around 3:30PM or so. Averaged nearly 50 mpg on "The Beastess" going and coming. I came home via a different route, cutting along the Alabama line down to Summerville, then East to Adairsville and on to Cartersville. Bike rode good, strong and steady all day.

Hikers

2009-08-22T17:34:00.000-05:00

Better shot of the hikers on the West Rim...

West Rim

2009-08-22T17:33:00.000-05:00

This is the West Rim of the Canyon, looking across from the parking lot on the East Side of the Canyon. If you look closely you'll see hikers on the West Rim, which is a 4.7 mile hike over.

Cloudland Canyon

2009-08-22T17:31:00.000-05:00

While BD was in Portland, Oregon visiting Sarah and the kids, I rode up to Cloudland Canyon Staqte Park. I've tried to get there two or three times before, but was rained out each time. Today, though, I made it. Two hours in the saddle, some very nice scenery and some routine scenery as well, but the canyon is pretty spectacular...this shot is righ over the railing out over which you can see the canyon. It is near the Alabama/Tennessee/Georgia convergance in NW Georgia near LaFayette.

2009-07-19T17:30:00.000-05:00

BD and I went to the North Georgia State Fail on Thursday July 16th. We haven't been there for 3 years, and when there last BD bought a purse she has always liked. We've talked several times about going back, but it was until this past week th..at the opportunity presented itself. We found the booth of the people that did the purses, and she bought 4 and got one free! Successful trip!

The fair takes place at the North Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds. We are renting a cabin in the Aska Wilderness Area in October, and while up there the "North Georgia Fall Festival" will be in full swing. We'll have another opportunity to visit the fairgrounds, which sit on Lake Chatuge in Hiawassee, Georgia. For those of you who listen to Blue Grass music and Southern Gospel, Marty Stuart will be performing while we're up there as will The Isaacs, a very popular Blue Grass/Southern Gospel singing/playing group.

The pictures include one of a guy playing a standup keyboard on the porch of the old Hiawassee Post Office. Though he had alligator slippers on, a quick look at them reminded me of something else for some reason. For those of you who grew up in the early to mid 60's, especically those of you who lived in the Chicago area during that time, radio station WLS had a rock 'n roll disc jockey named Dick Biondi. He was later fired for one of his on-air "skits" that got a little questionable, but while there I listened to him regularly through a little 6-transistor radio I put under my pillow at night...his show didn't start until 9PM. Anyway, one of his regular and on-going "stories" was of Chicken Man, a somewhat goofy and "dense" character who had trouble fighting crime in the City...don't know what it was that reminded me of the story line and Biondi, but it did and I had to get a picture for you...

You would have enjoyed the kids trying to "milk" the cow...it was hilarious!

2009-07-19T17:24:00.001-05:00

Okay, I'm weak. I have accepted my fate as a "taste" eater, meaning if it tastes good I'll probably eat it, and a lot of it, in spite of the fact it may not be the healthiest dish. On the other hand, fate, in this case, treats me well in the taste department. I love grits, good grits made from scratch with half & half instead of all milk, and I love cheese and sausage. So I get a bag of white speckled grits from a mill near Helen, Georgia, and make this casserole with cheese and sausage...also a stick of butter and 3 eggs and a little bit of sour cream for flavor. It is delicious, and in some ways even better the next morning when I scoop out a little bit and fry it in butter in a skillet...it makes your day. Of course, making that day is payback for the 10 the fat and cholesterol rob you of...I took these as it came out of the oven. You can see it's still bubbling in the last pic...

2009-07-19T16:51:00.002-05:00

2009-07-19T16:49:00.000-05:00

2009-07-19T16:44:00.001-05:00

We've talked for a while about doing a couple things to the land around the house. The house is built on a rock, with quite a steep driveway and steep hill on the South side of the home. So we decided to ask one of the guys that runs a landscaping and other kind of work crew to build steps for us. We also decided that since the upper most part of the lawn in the back of the house was not growing due to shade and the woods taking up most of the water we should do something about that too. So we had Pepe do the steps, "cutoff" the upper part of the backyard with steps and framing, and we also decided to re-do the bird feeders stands. We will be putting 4" cedar posts on teh brick pads on which to hang our feeders. Pepe did a great job...it is a work of art on the steps as he subtly curved them up the hill. We planted some Cleyeria along the lower part of the steps and several azaleas and a couple Camilias up by the steps in the back yard. Makes it easy as well to position the bench to get the best view!

Hoss and "The Beastess"

2009-07-04T07:34:00.003-05:00

Last Tuesday, I picked up Hoss from his Grandma's house (She almost didn't let him come to the truck...she didn't recognize me with my hair so long and in a pony tail...) took him for a ride on "The Beastess." We haven't had the chance to ride since last November...so we made the best of it. We rode through Red Top Mountain State Park, down through Acworth, to "Five Guys Burgers & Fries" then back up old U.S. Hwy 41 (two lane and twisting), then onto the Dairy Queen for a malt. He loved the ride...he's gotten so big! Last November we took it easy as he just sat on the pillion and held onto the seat rail, but now he's grown much taller and his feet rest on the passenger footboards! He really loves to ride...

The Beastess...

2009-05-03T14:58:00.000-05:00

Added a few things to "The Beastess" to get her ready for the road...new backrest for BD, shifter and brake pads, "visors" for the headlight and passing lamps, and a good cleaning. We've been on a couple three rides recently, and BD has enjoyed them as much as me. I have a thing or two I want to add this year, but nothing heavy duty or costly until next year probably...found out that H-D doesn't actually stand for Harley-Davidson...it stands for hundred dollars as that is about the minimum you spend each time you walk into the dealership...but I can fill her up with gas for about $8, and to date she's averaging nearly 40 miles per gallon...

Bryan and Emerson came to visit...

2009-05-03T14:49:00.001-05:00

They hung around for a little while, then we went to Target to get him a few things...he has really, really grown! And he is becoming very expressive, not only with facial changes, but he laughs at a lot of things...

When Nature calls...

2009-05-03T14:48:00.000-05:00

Er, has already called...;-)! Time for a quick cleanuo!

He LOVES BD!

2009-05-03T14:46:00.000-05:00

He just laughed and laughed while she played with him...he's a very happy baby around Grandma!

A rainy Sunday morning...

2009-05-03T14:44:00.000-05:00

BD left for Niagara Falls this afternoon. But before she left, we got to spend a lazy Sunday together...watched a couple news shows, read the local and Atlanta Sunday paper, cooked breakfast, then BD and Petey found time for a little shut-eye before getting ready for the trip...

More North than West...

2009-04-13T19:36:00.000-05:00

A little turn towards the North and the orange fades back to more pink behind the pines with the gray of the darkening clouds seeming to push it all over the edge of the world...

A few minutes earlier...

2009-04-13T19:34:00.000-05:00

A little more orange, contrasting to the pinks and blues and grays...

Monday's Sunset...

2009-04-13T19:32:00.001-05:00

I was talking to BD on the phone when I happened to look outside..it was a beautiful sunset, enhanced, I think, by the clouds remaining after a front pushed it's way through last night and this morning...the colors shaping a square in the clouds are of a blue that almost wasn't...kind of like that blue of the ocean in the more Southern locales...as much green as blue, with still a translucent overcoat of dove gray.

2009-04-04T17:04:00.000-05:00

And these are words of wisdom, indeed...

2009-04-04T17:03:00.000-05:00

My "P" in Sherman Oaks, California, sent me this very wonderful gift this week. It's a stitched ship with a few words as well...I hung it over the valet BD bought me for my birthday a few years ago...

2009-04-04T17:01:00.000-05:00

I was just handing his helmet to him when Bry said it might not be a good idea for him to ride on "The Beastess" today...it was still a little chilly and his leather jacket had not come back from the cleaners...

2009-04-04T16:59:00.000-05:00

Is that a happy Grandma grin on BDs face or what...

2009-04-04T16:58:00.000-05:00

What the heck! I told her they were clean! No need to go diggin' in there for something she wouldn't find...

2009-04-04T16:55:00.000-05:00

He has become, though, a little self-centered what with all the attention, and is very particular as to how he looks when company arrives...checking his hair, making sure there's no puree'd prunes around his mouth...things like that to make sure he's as handsome and sharp for visitors, even family!

2009-04-04T16:53:00.000-05:00

Look at the boy's calf! He is putting all he's eating to good growin'...and growin' he is! You should see his thighs and arms. He's really coming along well.

2009-04-04T16:52:00.000-05:00

We took "The Beastess" for a long ride around Noon. Paulding County had decided over the past few months to move U.S. Highway 120, so we spent some time looking for it, wound up on a familiar road that eventually took us to Bryan and Kim's house to visit Bry and "Little E."

2009-04-04T16:50:00.000-05:00

Azaleas are bloomin'...

2009-04-04T16:48:00.001-05:00

Of course, it's supposed to get down into the 20's two nights this week now that buds and blooms are making themselves seen...so we'll be out covering them with sheets to try to prevent a freeze-out we suffered two Springs ago...

2009-04-04T16:45:00.000-05:00

BD and petey went out this fine Saturday morning to see what was blooming...

2008-10-25T10:46:00.000-05:00

Mom and Petey resting after our trip back to Emerson from Chicago. She was a trooper on the road, and was none the worse for wear when we got home, though she slept pretty good while down here...

2008-09-25T18:14:00.000-05:00

Some more really weird looking trees. The first two started separate, about 6" apart, then entwined twice before separating again to continue on singly...then the ever present funnel web with a caught mass of leaves...and finally, the weirdest looking bark on a tree I have ever seen. About 6' up the tree, it looked like someone had wrapped barbed wire around it, pulled it taught, then removed it. The result was this "look" of hundreds if not thousands of tiny holes, symetrically spaced up and down, up to nearly the top of the tree...finally, the sign of the AT and the BMT and my walking stick. Bought it our first day here at the Blue Ridge Arts Festival...never used one before, but won't hike again without it...

2008-09-25T18:07:00.000-05:00

I have always wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail. This is the beginning of a part of the AT, near Three Forks and Springer Mountain, that allowed us to hike the AT, and, as a bonus, returning on the Benton MacKaye Trail. Both in one 4+ mile hike. It was terrific!! It starts with a bridge over Chester's Creek, which the AT follows pretty much up to Springer Mountain. Clear, cool water for tired, aching feet at the end of a day hike!

Also, some weird looking trees on the AT too!!

2008-09-25T16:57:00.000-05:00

This part of the Tennessee Rock Trail was beautiful, if somewhat taxing. Just beyond this sight of wonder was the beginning of a series of switchbacks that led uphill rather steeply. This trail was only 2.2 miles, but it took us three hours to complete...too many spots to stop and take a picture.

Finally the summit! The marker reflects an altitude of 3,640'. Even this butterfly had to stop for fuel and rest before continuing on...Before you actually head down, you hit the overlook where the distant views are breathtaking...

2008-09-25T16:50:00.000-05:00

The views are awe inspiring...and some of the sights were interesting...the mushrooms, the funnell webs with the leaves in it, and a very unusual looking tree growing over a stump of another tree...

2008-09-25T16:46:00.000-05:00

My second favorite State Park is Black Rock Mountain State Park, which is in the NE corner of Georgia between Clayton, GA and Mountain City, GA. It is also the highest state park, with an elevation of 3,600' at the summit. It has several trails to hike, and is one of the most beautiful spots in Georgia. Here again you can look out over mountains in North Georgia as well as in South Carolina. Also, on the Tennessee Rock Trail, there is an overlook on point of the ridgeline where you can, on a clear day, see Brasstown Bald (highest peak in Geogria at 4,800') to the South and Clingman's Dome (6,642') in Tennessee (in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park).

2008-09-25T16:35:00.000-05:00

Tuesday we headed to the Northeast of where we were staying and toward the higher elevations of the state. Rabun County is in the NE corner of the state, and it's here where we found these wildflowers growing at "Popcorn Overlook." They were beautiful!

2008-09-25T16:30:00.000-05:00

The Flat Creek Loop trail is the first one we did on Monday. It was a long, 3-hour loop, but worth the effort. You can see some of the canopy below along the trail, and you can see some of the colorful leaves that have already fallen. The loop is in the Aska Wilderness Area near Blue Ridge...several mountains, and many, many winding roads that make this part of the State a magnet for hikers and motorcyclists both.

2008-09-25T16:26:00.000-05:00

It's not what you would call "roughing it," but we really, really enjoy coming up here. Blue Ridge itself is a quaint little "Main Street" small town, that Main Street mainly made up of antique and specialty shops, fudge makers (I know both of them quite well...), and pottery shops. We usually try too find something each year for the house (it's our Anniversary the last week of September) and enjoy looking for something unique.

Below you can see some of the amenities of the cabin we're in. It is also equipped with a wireless wi-fi setup, hot tub, 3 bedrooms, and a pool table downstairs that has led to three failed attempts to beat BD and her Son, Bryan.

We haven't had a fire as it isn't really that cold up here yet. But this AM it was 48 degrees, and only 52 when we got to the trailhead, so maybe tonight...

2008-09-25T16:21:00.000-05:00

Morning at the cabin in Blue Ridge. BD and I spend a week in a cabin in the North Georgia mountains each September, and this is the morning view off of the back porch. The fog in the valleys was breathtaking. Looking way off you see some of the mountains of South Carolina.

2008-09-25T16:16:00.000-05:00

This is just one of the parking lots at "Thunder Creek Harley Davidson" in Chattanooga, TN. They said there were about 800 motorcycles parked in this lot...

The Blessing of the Bkes

2008-09-25T16:13:00.000-05:00

On Friday, September 19, 2008, I joined about 300 motorcycles (the line of bikes was nearly 3 miles long) in the "Charlie Maxwell Memorial Ride" to Chattanooga, TN. It is the Georgia leg of the "Trail of Tears Remembrance Ride" that takes place the 3rd weekend in September to commemorate the Cherokee Trail of Tears, walked in the late 1830's when President Jackson (I think it was Jackson...) ordered the removal of the Cherokee, Cree, Creek, Seminole and other lesser known tribes from Georgia and the Carolinas to their reservation in Oklahoma. Many, many died, and the others suffered extreme cold, hunger, and misery.

The ride in Georgia became the Charlie Maxwell Memorial Ride in honor of an Earl Small's Harley Davidson employee who was an enthusiast of the ride, but who unfortunately died before he could ride. We left the Cartersville HD dealership on Friday morning, and rode to a meeting place just 40 miles East of Chattanooga where we met with a contingent of about 100 motorcycles from the Carolinas. We all then rode to "Thunder Creek Harley Davidson" in Chattanooga where there were about 800 motorcycles already there. It was something to see, something to experience. My first organized ride, and one I will endeavor to ride each year.

There was a couple days of celebration at the Cartersville HD dealership...bands, food, Native American arts and crafts, and Native American Dancing by a Cherokee dance troupe. The highlight of Friday just before we left on the ride was "The Blessing of the Bikes" by a Cherokee Shaman (don't know if he is or not...but purported to be). He is just blessing my motorcycle in the picture.

Stage 1 mods on "The Beastess"

2008-08-31T16:38:00.000-05:00

This gives you a look at the left side exhaust pipe. You can also see the new footboards I bought and had installed. They are a smaller version of my footboards, and provide BD a much more comfortable riding platform. We rode for nearly 5 hours on Friday and they were very comfortable. The ride took us to Amicalola Falls State Park, about 2 hours North, then we came home and cut across Hwy 53, a 2-lane State highway. Got caught in a wreck on that road, though, and it was closed for nearly 2 hours due to having to have LifeFlight come in for the injured. We had to backtrack and take a 4-lane home, which is faster but not as pleasant riding. Anyway, the last hour was pretty tiring...

You can also see here the FoxCreek Leather bag I bought to put on the back of the sissy bar. It's got bunches of room, and BD even put in a Vitamin Water to take along to drink.

Stage 1 modifications to "The Beastess"

2008-08-31T16:32:00.001-05:00

BD took a picture of "The Beatess" with her new pipes. You can see the right side exhaust pipe ends in a "fishtail" tip. If you look close, you'll see the round, chrome air cleaner cover inside my leg. It's more of a 50's style cover and is much more comfortable to ride with as my leg doesn't keep hitting it like it did with the OEM "football" air cleaner cover. The pipes are somewhat louder than the stock pipes, but not obnoxiously so...though when you "pop" the throttle and get on it they do bark...

2008-07-18T15:53:00.002-05:00

I don't have a picture...but today I took a 2-hour ride on "The Beastess" and it was great! I had planned a little ride as I hadn't been on her for 2 weeks, I had the day off, and would be going by myself as BD was working. Well, I got headed North, took a cut East on Hwy 20, and decided that instead of the usual run to the Harley store I would keep going on towards Canton. Cut up to Waleska on Hwy 108, stopped to look at Reinhardt College and how it's changed over the years, then headed towards Tate, GA, the marble capital of the Southeast, on Hwy 53.

At Tate, I had a dilemma...stay on 53 towards Dawsonville (the home of Awesome Bill from Dawsonville for all you NASCAR fans out there...) or cut back North on Alternate 53 towards Jasper and Ellijay. Picked a number between 1 and 50, got the closest so I won and picked Jasper. Many winding, 50-60 mph long and sweeping curves later, I hit Jasper and stopped at a Wendy's to call BD and grab a burger. Back on 53 took me towards Ellijay and Talking Rock, but I decided to stay heading West towards Fairmount and Hwy 411, the road back to Cartersville. Past the Harely Store, into C'ville, on out the other side and into Emerson as that is the only Sunoco gas station in the area, and "The Beastess" has had only Sunoco Premium to drink from day one. Took the river road by the Etowah to hit Hwy 41, then 5 minutes later I pulled up into the driveway and into the garage. I could see Petey in the office window over the garage, and as I was shutting her down he bounded into the garage and was jumping up and down, wanting attention from me...

The ride was wonderful. I ran 50 mph or so the whole way, and actually discovered a couple additions I'd like to make to the run. I plan next time to ride beyond Tate and all the way to Dawsonville, pick up Hwy 136, and run it's arc from Dawsonville to Talking Rock, then on into Fairmount. I also plan on heading up 411 at the start as well, going all the way to Rydal and hitting Hwy 140 that will bring us into Waleska from the West instead of the South...can't wait!! Particularly because BD said she would go with me on the next one!! She enjoys riding the Hawg, and I suspect she'll very much like this ride.

A new saddle for "The Beastess"

2008-06-06T17:22:00.000-05:00

It comes from a 2003 H-D Heritage Springer Softail, and is very comfortable to ride. It sits a little bit further back than the original saddle, and is much more supportive. I like the rail, too, as it gives her a 50's look which I think fits this particular Softail perfectly well. Also, riding her solo, I add the rear fender bib and it gives her a lower profile and really looks cool. Took her in for her 1,000 mile service last Monday, and am now saving to get a dual exhaust setup, a hi-flow a/c, and have her race tuned...I bought the race tuner when I had the service done, but won't put her on the dyno until I can install the exhaust. Thought you'd like to see a few new pictures...

Valentine's Day Petey

2008-02-14T16:21:00.003-05:00

Poor Petey...had to get a little trim, and unfortunatley for him it is Valentine's Day and when I picked him up he softly sneaked around the counter at the groomer and could barely hold his head up to look at me or allow me to look at him...a red bandanna, covered in hearts, and he had to wear it out in public...he was humiliated. And that look..."please get this *&$%$#^&* of (*&$ off of me..."

Placemats by Sarah

2008-02-14T07:01:00.002-05:00

Aren't these nice! Sarah, BD's middle daughter who lives in Oregon, made these Valentine's Day placemats for BD...they're black with red hearts and Romance and Love written all over them...nice and thick, too. Very, very nice!! Thank you, Sarah!!

"Little Dog"

2008-02-13T20:31:00.003-05:00

I got to pick Hoss up from school today. We planned to go to Chuck E Cheese as it's one of his favorite spots, but before we went I brought him to the house to see the Hog...and he loved it!! He has a little more growing to do before he fits it, but he is thinking ahead as he wanted to know when I got too old to ride it if he could have it...;-)!

Made it home...

2008-01-31T17:50:00.001-05:00

Got the bike home with nary a scratch on it or myself! The salesman said he would deliver it if I was uncomfortable with riding it home as I hadn't really ridden a bike for any length of time in over 30 years. But I figured I had to ride it some time, so I kicked it in 1st and hit the highway. It was an experience to say the least...powerful, big and heavy, with 40 degree temps to deal with as well as a 20 mph wind...something that gave me some pause I tell ya'. But in the end, it was a "grinner" and I am still smiling! I have decided that I shall now be referred to as Wood "Big Dog" Mason...

The Harley Has Arrived!!!

2008-01-31T17:40:00.000-05:00

2008-01-21T10:09:00.000-05:00

I bought Hoss a Fender Stratocaster copy electric guitar and amp for Christmas. Every time he has come to the house, he has walked over and strummed the old Epihone flattop I have on a stand in the Great Room. So I thought I'd get him something he could play, and see if he really liked playing the guitar or playing at playing the guitar. He really seems to like it, fancies himself as a Gene Simmons soon-to-be, and has taken 2 lessons so far...I got 2 months of lessons with the guitar, so we'll see how he likes it...as you can see, he already has a "roadie"...Petey, though, said there better be a breakthrough in bookings and income for him to stay with it much longer...

2008-01-05T15:23:00.000-05:00

It got cold here this week. Wednesday morning it was 17 degrees, and the wind was swirling around at near 20 knots...it was COLD! On Thursday AM, it was 13 degrees, but the wind had died down. Friday was a little warmer at 22 degrees, and this AM it was 30. We're expecting it to moderate somewhat today and tonight, with early AM temps in the low 40's. Good thing, as BD and I and Petey are heading to Red Top Mountain for an early AM hike...we do the 3.5 mile hike, and Petey never slows down. He loves it. Before I get to the sofa table, take a look at the ice in the rain barrels. We put two 30-gallon garbage cans out back of the porch and behing the camelia to capture rain since we are on a 100% watering ban due to the drought. You can see how deep the freeze was...the ice was nearly 4 inches thick. When the barrels are full, the birds like to come and roost on the edges and drink...it looked like they were ice skating on the tops the past few days...poor little guys were trying to find a spot to drink. We went out and broke it all up each day so they could get to the water...

The sofa table you see is one of 2 things we bought with gifts given to us by our Moms. When we visit BDs Mom in Long Beach, we like to visit a furniture store that is full of wonderful Mission and Amish style hardwood furniture. Last visit there we saw this sofa table...solid oak with a darker finish, and with 2 Tiffany style stained glass inserts under clear glass. It caught our eye immediately, but of course, Long Beach is a long way from Emerson, Georgia, and we couldn't just pack it in our suitcases and check the baggage...and last time we asked about shipping something it was very, very expensive. But as luck would have it, the table actually came unassembled in 2 boxes, so when we checked into shipping it was reasonable and we pulled the trigger. It came in this week and we assembled it this AM (BD and I worked together, and truth be told that nary a cuss word was uttered...by me of course. BD is the calm, patient one...I am certainly not). It's beautiful, fits into the Great Room perfectly, and adds a little "cool and neat" factor to the open area behind the love seat.

Another event that was cool this first week of the new year, on Wednesday about Noon, I headed out the back door and down the steps off of the deck to the East side of the garage (the back of the garage) with Petey. We were finishing up lunch and were headed back up to the office to do some bill paying stuff. Before he had come down the steps behind me, and in a silence unbelieveable until I experienced it, two deer came bounding around the North side of the garage, right by me (2 or 3 feet only), down the steep slope and across the street into the woods...they were absolutely silent until they hit the street, and of course I could hear them running through the underbrush in the woods...it was very exciting to be so near them. A couple of times lately, when I take Petey out for his last bathroom trip before bedtime, I hear an animal of some sort rushing away. On one occassion I know it was a raccoon as I saw him coming down from the bird feeder pole and heading up a tree. But antother time I could have sworn I saw something "standing" a ways off from me, seemingly waiting for me to make a move of some kind before it took off or ran for cover. It was big enough for me to see the outline above the brush height, so I thought initially it might be a deer...guess this proves it. Others in the community have had a time with deer eating their plants, but we live up so steeply on this hill that we have never had any trouble...or so we thought. It has been only a couple weeks that BD mentioned something had come up and eaten the pansies we had planted, so I guess it is deer after all...seems like an awful steep hill and a lot of work for just a mouthful of little bitty pansies...

Oh yah...I went back to work Thursday at Noon...had nearly 3 weeks off...don't think I'll mind being retired one of these days..;-)!

2007-12-05T16:40:00.000-05:00

BD had been encouraging me to buy a Martin, as my infrequent attempts to play the Epiphone resulted in out-of-tune noise. It is not a bad guitar, but certainly not a Martin. She has known I have wanted one since we have been together, and has encouraged me to strive to make that dream come true when I had the chance. I had decided that this year, if I was careful, I would try to buy a Martin, and had been looking at a new HD-28 online and at the guitar shop in town, Southern Guitars. A new HD-28VS would be much out of my price range, but talking to Southern Guitars yesterday the guy tried to explain to me that it would be a better investment to purchase one he knew about instead of a new HD-28. To make a long story short, he knew a guy that deals in high-end guitars (BD's first questions was, "Is it stolen?"), and had a pristine Vintage Series available. I went to the shop yesterday over my lunch hour, played it, and fell in love with it...not a mark on it, not even those fine, hair-like scratches on the pick guard. The finish is unblemished with no scratches, dents, dings or any kind of marks. The case is immaculate, and I noticed that the little envelope that held the keys to the case was still sealed. In fact, I learned that the warranty had never been activated, so the guitar has never been registered with Martin! I might be so lucky to even benefit from Martin's Lifetime warranty!!

Anyway, I got it! I am a truly happy camper. BD has stood behind me on 2 of the 3 things I have lusted after for the past 40 years, and helped me obtain my Pilot's License (#1, and she got the first ride...which took some prodding to tell you the truth...), now my Martin (#2), and at the end of January or first of February #3 will be in the garage (I'm buying a Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe...dream #3!!). If it wasn't for her, and her encouragement, I don't know if I would have ever had the focus needed to tackle these things one by one... I am indebted to her for that, and will always love her for showing me the way to realize these dreams!!

2007-12-05T16:30:00.000-05:00

You can sort'a see the Herringbone scallopped edges around the body of the guitar and the sound hole. It's beautiful. The VS part of the model refers to it being a "Vintage Series" guitar, meaning it is built as closely to the same way the "28" was built pre-war. It was not what I was going to buy, but as it turned out...

2007-12-05T16:27:00.000-05:00

This is a Martin HD-28VS guitar, something I have wanted for about 40 years...Martins are the best guitars made, in my humble opinion, and since the first time I played one I hoped that one day I would be able to own one. I have owned an Epiphone for about 25 years, and it's been a good little guitar, but it isn't a Martin...nothing is.